> In India, for example, they use the lines between the segments of the fingers to count.
My mother does this, and additionally used to do arithmetic this way.
She never really taught us how to do math this way.
Finger counting gives away your nationality
11–20 of 160 posts
Re: Finger counting gives away your nationality
#12The correct way is to count in binary, and easily reach 1023 without needing a third hand [0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_binary
The number 4 may be an issue for some cultures!
Re: Finger counting gives away your nationality
#13The correct way is to count in binary, and easily reach 1023 without needing a third hand [0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_binary
So 4 is the numeric equivalent of a raised middle finger.
Re: Finger counting gives away your nationality
#14The correct way is to count in binary, and easily reach 1023 without needing a third hand [0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_binary
> and easily reach 1023 without needing a third hand
Given that most people cannot move their ring finger independently of their middle finger, this seems like a stretch.
Re: Finger counting gives away your nationality
#15And a key plot point in Inglourious Basterds.
https://www.businessinsider.com/order-a-beer-like-a-german-2...
Re: Finger counting gives away your nationality
#16I like what I got to know as "the Japanese way" to count to 144 on my fingers. I´m sure it´s not exclusive to Japan tho. Using thumb as a pointer, I count not on the fingers, but their segments. Each finger is 3 segments, which gives 12 per hand. Now, to boost it, one hand is used to count the dozens from the other hand. Gets me thinking, maybe this is one of the reasons for popularity of 12-based systems in ancient…
> maybe this is one of the reasons for popularity of 12-based systems in ancient times?
The popularity of 12-based systems is due to the fact that 12 is divisible by 2, 3, and 4.
Re: Finger counting gives away your nationality
#17This can be fatal - as shown in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds...
"Three glasses." - Those goddamn people from Piz Palü!
Re: Finger counting gives away your nationality
#18I really like the Chinese way of counting. As far as I remember you can go as high as 99 on both hands.
Still, I'm never able to memorise it, no matter how many times I learn it.
Re: Finger counting gives away your nationality
#19I like what I got to know as "the Japanese way" to count to 144 on my fingers. I´m sure it´s not exclusive to Japan tho. Using thumb as a pointer, I count not on the fingers, but their segments. Each finger is 3 segments, which gives 12 per hand. Now, to boost it, one hand is used to count the dozens from the other hand. Gets me thinking, maybe this is one of the reasons for popularity of 12-based systems in ancient…
> maybe this is one of the reasons for popularity of 12-based systems in ancient times? The popularity of 12-based systems is due to the fact that 12 is divisible by 2, 3, and 4.
That was on my ming when I wrote "one of the".
Re: Finger counting gives away your nationality
#20The correct way is to count in binary, and easily reach 1023 without needing a third hand [0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_binary
> and easily reach 1023 without needing a third hand Given that most people cannot move their ring finger independently of their middle finger, this seems like a stretch.
Try it. It works.